Mancini, the Manchester City manager, was furious with Kevin Friend during his team's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, suggesting that "maybe the referee ate too much for Christmas". Mancini felt that Friend had missed a foul on Pablo Zabaleta in the buildup to Adam Johnson's decisive goal and he said that it was "impossible two men couldn't see it," referring to the referee and his linesman.

Redknapp lost his cool after a pair of questionable decisions in Queens Park Rangers' 2-1 home loss to West Bromwich Albion; the first, a nudge on his goalkeeper, Rob Green, that played a part in West Brom's second goal and the second, the non-award of a late penalty when Liam Ridgewell appeared to handle.

"I asked the linesman how he didn't see that penalty – it was the most blatant handball you could wish to see but he said it was murky down there in that corner and he couldn't make it out," Redknapp said. "Maybe he should go to Specsavers. I thought they were both awful decisions. Scandalous decisions."

The FA takes a dim view of managers calling into question the capability of match officials and it is likely to write to both Mancini and Redknapp to ask them for their explanations. In that event, the managers would have three days to respond and the FA would then decide whether to bring any charges relating to improper conduct.

Ferguson, though, is in the clear after his confrontation with Dean. The United manager was angry after the referee overruled his assistant, Jake Collin, to award Newcastle's second goal in the 28th minute. Ferguson approached Dean as he made his way out for the second-half before he rounded on Collin and the fourth official, Neil Swarbrick.

But Dean made no mention in his match report of any improper conduct from Ferguson, with the conversation, despite its apparently heated nature, being regarded as rational and reasonable. The FA, therefore, will take no further action.